U.S. Dep't of State, 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Saint Lucia

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The constitution provides for freedom of religion and individuals’ right to change, manifest, and propagate the religion of their choosing. It grants religious groups the right to establish and maintain schools and provide religious instruction. The law requires religious groups with more than 250 members to register with the government. The Religious Affairs Council, an official entity consisting of representatives of registered Christian groups and one non-Christian representative, continued to meet during the year.

The government engaged with faith-based organizations (FBOs) and the Catholic Archdiocese of Castries during the year on natural disaster recovery issues. In April, the Catholic Church held a peace walk in the violence-plagued city of Vieux Fort. The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, and Empowerment resubmitted the application documents of the nominee for appointment as Religious Status Officer from the Rastafarian House of Nyahbinghi. The Office of the Registrar of Civil Status confirmed that the application was being processed.

The Christian Council continued to hold interdenominational meetings. The Catholic Church of Saint Lucia continued to offer temporary shelter to victims of human trafficking. There is no permanent U.S. diplomatic presence in the country. The U.S. Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to the government.

Embassy officials raised with government interlocutors the importance of religious freedom and interfaith relations in promoting respect for religious diversity in the country. They also discussed the value of faith-based groups in providing public services. The embassy’s public messaging on social media reinforced respect for religious freedom and diversity. Section I. Religious Demography The U.S. government estimates the total population at 167,600 (midyear 2023).

According to the most recent census (2010 Population and Housing Census), the latest available, Roman Catholics are 61.1 percent of the population; Seventh-day Adventists, 10.4 percent; Pentecostals, 8.8 percent; evangelical Christians, 2.2 percent; Baptists, 2.1 percent; and Rastafarians, 2 percent. Other groups together constituting less than 2 percent of the population include Anglicans, members of the Church of God, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Methodists, Muslims, Hindus, and Baha’is. Nearly 6 percent of the population claims no religious affiliation. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has approximately 250 members in the country.

Unofficial estimates of the Muslim population, which is mostly Sunni, range from 150 to 400 individuals. According to representatives of the Jewish community, there are approximately 200 Jewish residents, most of whom are noncitizens. Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom Legal Framework The constitution states “a person shall not be hindered in the enjoyment of” freedom of conscience, including of thought and religion, and in the manifestation and propagation of religion or belief through practice, worship, teaching, and observance.

It protects individuals’ rights to change their religion and prohibits religious instruction without consent in schools, prisons, and military service. A blasphemy law exists but is not enforced. The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment is responsible for religious affairs and implements the government’s FBO policy. FBOs may apply to register if they meet the required threshold of at least 250 members.

To register, groups must provide contact information, their establishment date and history, declaration of belief, number of members, location of meeting place, and income sources. FBOs are encouraged to seek incorporation as a bona fide nonprofit organization under the Companies Act. Registered groups are eligible to receive associated benefits. Unregistered groups may or may not have recognition status with the government.

An unregistered group that submits a “notification of existence,” which includes identifying the group’s leadership, will receive correspondence acknowledging the group’s existence. After receiving the notification of existence, a group is then able to incorporate under the Companies Act. After incorporation, the entity becomes a legal person for taxation purposes including for land registration and deeds of sale. Registration costs 500 Eastern Caribbean dollars ($185).

After registration with the ministry and incorporation as a legal entity, a religious group may apply for concessions, including duty-free concessions on certain imported goods, departure tax and ticket tax waivers from the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority, and exemption from work permits. Formal government registration also allows registered religious groups legally to register births, marriages, and deaths officiated by religious leaders. Ministry of Education regulations require the vaccination of all schoolchildren before they enter public or private school; however, the ministry grants exemptions based on religion. The public school curriculum includes religious studies; the Ministry of Education does not require students to participate in these classes.

The classes familiarize students with the core beliefs of world religions rather than promoting any particular faith. The constitution grants religious groups the right to establish and maintain what are known as “assisted” schools, such as those sponsored by the Catholic, Seventh-day Adventist, and Anglican churches. The government provides approximately 50 percent of the funding for assisted schools but does not cover expenses for classes on religion. All students may attend assisted schools regardless of belief or nonbelief.

The government’s registration policy defines the process of obtaining work and labor permits for missionaries. Immigration authorities grant work permits for individuals entering the country to conduct missionary work in exchange for the payment of a weekly fee of 200 Eastern Caribbean dollars ($74). Providing that they abide by the law, foreign missionaries face no other restrictions or obligations. The country is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Government Practices The Religious Affairs Council, an official entity consisting of representatives of registered Christian groups and one non-Christian representative elected by their respective religious groups and a nonvoting government official, continued to meet during the year. The Government of Saint Lucia engaged with FBOs and prioritized collaboration with the Catholic Archdiocese of Castries regarding community and district disaster management after the country was impacted by multiple severe weather systems. The government did not convene National Consultation of Faith Based Organizations for Religious Advisory Committee elections, which were due to be held in 2021; this was due to COVID-19 and budgetary constraints. In April, the Catholic Church held a peace walk in the violence-plagued city of Vieux Fort.

Saint Lucia’s Minister of Equity, Social Justice, and Empowerment commended the Catholic Church for denouncing gun violence and crime. FBOs contributed to the planning and execution of the National Independence Ecumenical Service, which took place on February 17. According to press reports, Minister of Equity, Social Justice, and Empowerment Joachim Henry stated the Ecumenical Service was a key component of the calendar of activities to commemorate national independence. FBOs also collaborated with the government in June for the Ecumenical Service in Celebration of Public Service Day, and in July for the Ecumenical Service in Commemoration of CARICOM’s 50th Anniversary.

In June, the Saint Lucia Christian Council of Churches and the Saint Lucia Mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church collaborated with the government on a launching ceremony for the inaugural National Day of Caring. The National Day of Caring highlighted individuals with disabilities and included faith-based sponsors who had participated in outreach to those in need of assistance. The Rastafarian community and the Anglican Church both contributed to this year’s national Emancipation Day celebration in August. The government met regularly with FBOs, who have representation on the National Emergency Management Advisory Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, to discuss assistance to vulnerable populations and other social issues.

In follow up to 2022 meetings with the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment, the Rastafarian House of Nyahbinghi resubmitted the application documents of the nominee for appointment as Religious Status Officer. The Office of the Registrar of Civil Status stated that the application was being processed. The Rastafarian community also discussed with government officials the decriminalization of cannabis, which Rastafarians used during religious ceremonies. Section III.

Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom The Christian Council continued to hold interdenominational meetings. In August, the head of the Catholic Church of Saint Lucia spoke on the importance of preserving the country’s Christian heritage. In the same speech, he raised what he called the challenges of needing to accept homosexuality to retain access to international finance. Another Christian Council member and head of the Anglican Church of Saint Lucia publicly echoed the comments.

The Christian Council called on the government to “learn from other countries that stood firm against homosexuality, accepting and surviving the consequences from the international community.” The council advocated for a “measured approach” that upheld Saint Lucia’s “moral principles” while navigating the “complexities of international standards.” The Catholic Church of Saint Lucia continued to provide temporary shelter to victims of human trafficking, regardless of their religious beliefs. Rastafarian community members collaborated internationally with Rastafarian communities in other countries to raise awareness and understanding of the disproportionate impact on their communities of the criminalization of marijuana and propose ways to seek redress. Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement There is no permanent U.S. diplomatic presence in the country.

The U.S. Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to the government. Embassy officials raised with officials of the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, and Empowerment and the Ministry of External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation, and Diaspora Affairs the importance of religious freedom and interfaith relations in promoting respect for religious and other diversity in the country. They also discussed the contributions of faith-based groups in providing public services to the community. The embassy used official social media accounts to promote messages regarding the importance of religious freedom and respect for religious diversity.

The embassy marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day on its social media accounts. On This Page search > < EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Section I. Religious Demography Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom Legal Framework Government Practices Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom Section IV.

U.S. Government Policy and Engagement Tags Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Office of International Religious Freedom Religious Freedom Reports Saint Lucia